The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (KEWR) approved the price of natural gas for February at 84.34 BGN/MWh, excluding prices for access, transmission, excise duty and VAT, the regulator announced.
At this price, "Bulgargaz" will sell natural gas to end suppliers and to persons who have been issued a license for the production and transmission of thermal energy.
KEWR indicates that they made this decision after analyzing the prices submitted by "Bulgargaz" today (February 1) current data forming the price of the blue fuel for the current month.
The price mix includes the entire agreed quantity of Azerbaijani natural gas supplied via the "Bulgaria - Greece" interconnector (IGB), according to the long-term contract with Azerbaijan. KEWR notes that these quantities are important for achieving a favorable price for the blue fuel.
"Bulgargaz" has concluded two contracts for the supply of liquefied natural gas with traders. This took place after an organized auction with requirements for a minimum delivery price and a proposed payment method. The price mix for the month also includes quantities from the "Chiren" underground gas storage facility.
The announcement also states that the operator of the terminal in Alexandroupolis has notified "Bulgargaz" for partial, and subsequently, as of January 28, for complete limitation of the regasification capacity and for natural gas supply from the terminal due to technical problems. Immediate actions were taken and the planned supply was redirected to a terminal in Turkey within the framework of the agreement with "Botaş".
Against the background of reduced requests for natural gas supply in February, the role of natural gas supplied by Azerbaijan, which has the best price component in the mix, is increasing, KEWR indicates.
The TTF pricing index for February is about 8 percent higher than in January and despite these unfavorable circumstances, the increase in the regulated price for February does not exceed 3 percent compared to the price for January, KEWR notes.
The approved price of natural gas includes the component price of the blue fuel at the entrance to the gas transmission networks, the component for the activity "public supply" under the Regulation on the Regulation of Natural Gas Prices, as well as the cost compensation component under the same regulation, covering the costs of "Bulgargaz" for storing quantities in the gas storage facility in "Chiren". This is in fulfillment of obligations under the Emergency Action Plan.
The provided quantities cover the public supplier's commitments for February to end suppliers and district heating companies, as well as the quantities under bilateral contracts with industrial customers, the regulator also states.
BTA recalls that the KEVR approved the price of natural gas for January in the amount of 81.94 BGN/MWh, also excluding prices for access, transmission, excise duty and VAT.